The Hakodate City Tram Department (函館市企業局交通部) is a public transport authority in Hakodate, Japan. The bureau currently operates only trams, although until 1 April 2003 it also ran a number of bus routes. The Kikan Horsecar Railway (亀函馬車鉄道), a private horsecar operating company, opened Hakodate's first tram line in 1897. It was the first tram in Japan to be located north of Tokyo. The network was electrified in 1913. Following several changes of ownership, the Hakodate City Government finally took over control of the lines in 1943.

Hakodate City Tram

There were once twelve routes operating on six lines with a total length of 17.9 km. However, declining ridership led to closure of parts of the network in 1978, 1992, and 1993. The current network consists of two routes operating on four lines with a total length of 10.9 km. For most of the day, trams run every ten minutes on each route, or every five minutes on the section between Yunokawa and Jūjigai, which is shared by both routes. After 19.00 the frequency is reduced to one tram every twenty minutes on each route, or every ten minutes on the shared section. ICAS nimoca Card, a magnetic prepaid card, is accepted for payment of fares.

Stations

Both routes run together in parallel from Yunokawa to Jujigai for 20 stations, where they split up, with three stations on each separate branch. In addition to connecting to a vaster network of bus routes criss-crossing the city, the tram system is also linked to the Hakodate Station.

Rolling stock

As of 31 March 2023, the bureau owns 37 trams; 32 of them are used for commercial operation, three are decorated and two more are equipped with snowplows. The following types of vehicles are in use: The following vehicles are not used for commercial purposes: